Grading-machine.



T.l R. MdKNIGI-IT.

GRADINGMAGHINE.'

APPLICATIONPILED JULY 15, 1908.

981,781'. Patented Jan. 17,1911. v

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

T. R. MGKNIGHT.

GRADING MACHINE..

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 190e.

'ms Nanms versus ce., wAsHlNcraN. n. cr

Patented Jam.r 17, 1911'. i

6 SHEETS-SHEET T. R. MGKNIGHT.

GRADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY15, 1908.

Patented Jan. 17, 1911.

6 SHEETS-"SHEET 4.

1HE NoRms Pneus ca., wAsHlNcToN, n. c.

T. R. MOKNIGHT. `GRADING MACHINE. APPL'IOATION HLBDJULY 1s, 190s.

PatentedJall. 17, 1911.w

6 'SHEETS-SHEET 5.

'12. R. 111511111111113. GRADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1908.

981,781 Patented .1311.121911 I 6 SHEETS-s111121* 6.

will@ pair e THOMAS R. ll/ICKNIGI-IT, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T W'ESTERN WHEELED SCRAPER COMPANY, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

GRADING-MACHINE.

Application filed July 15,

To all 'whom it may concern:

13e it known that I, THOMAS R. MCKMGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Aurora, in the county of Kane and StateV of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grading-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to grading machinery, and has particularly to do with grading machines for railway use.

It has for its object to provide a new and improved machine in the nature or' a car provided with means for grading or ditching at either side of a railway track over which the car runs, and also to provide a construction by which the grading or leveling devices may be reversed-so that the car may be operated in either direction.

)L iurther object is to provide a car with grading devi 'es at one or both sides so mounted as to be capable oit being removed and deposited upon thc car for transportation purposes, and to provide mechanism by which the grading devices may be conveniently and easily handled.

I accomplish these objects by the means shown in the drawings and hereinafter specifically described.

That which I believe to be new is pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figurc 1 is a plan view illustrating a part of my improved car. Fig. 2 is a liront elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. '-1 is an enlarged detail, being a vertical section on line d-d oi Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail, being a plan view of the scraperblade and the supporting devices therefor. F 6 is a perspective view, showing the construction or' the annular rack by which the scraper-blade is angularly adjusted. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail, being a plan view, showing the manner in which the lateral scraper-frame-supporting arms are connected with the car. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the scraper and the devices which immediately support it. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail, showing the locking device by which the scraper-blade is secured in different positions of adjustment. Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line lO-lO of Fig.- 11, showing the devices for laterally adjust- Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 17, 1911.

1908. Serial No. 443,684.

l ing the scraper-blade. Fig. ll is an end view of certain parts shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a cross section on line 12-12 of Fig. l. Fig. 13 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 7.

Referring now to Fig. 1, which shows somewhat more than one-half of the car frame, together with the scraper carried at one side thereof, it should be explained that the complete car is equipped with four scraper-frames and scrapers, two at each side, all of said scraper-frames and scrapers, however, being of the same kind and mounted in the same way, so that the illustration of the one will suffice to fully show the construction. As therein illustrated, 14E indicates the frame of the car, 15 one of the trucks, and 16 the coupler at one end ot the car. 17-18 indicate the members of a pair of scraper-frame supporting arms which at their inner ends are secured to the car-trame and project laterally therefrom. Said arms are parallel with each other and are separated by a distance substantially equal to the length ot the scraper-frame, as shown in Fig. 1. 19-20 indicate corresponding members of a pair of similar arms at the other side of the car, and 21-22 indicate the inner members of similar pairs of arms at the other end of the car, said arms 21-22 corresponding with the arms 18-20. The several laterally-projecting arms are pivotally secured to the end portions of transverse bars 23 which are iXedly secured to the car-frame at suitable intervals, as shown in Fig. 1.

The construction by which the several laterally-projecting arms are pivotally connected with the car-frame is best shown in Figs. l, 2 and 13, from which it will be seen that uprights 24 are provided at the ends of the transverse bars 23, said uprights being secured between their ends to said transverse bars 23 and at their lower ends being connected vviththe car-frame. vBraces 25 connect the upper ends of said uprights with the transverse bars 23, as shown in Fig. 2. The laterally-proj ecting arms 17-18, and the other corresponding arms, are also provided with uprights 26 at their inner ends, said uprights being braced by brace-rods 27, as shown in Fig. 2. The ends of the uprights 26 are bent at right-angles so as to lie horizontally and are perforated to receive a pivot rod 28 which passes through the bent ends of said uprights and through perforated bearing plates 29-30 secured to the upper and lower ends of the uprights 24, as shown -in Fig. 2. These parts therefore coperate to form a hinge by which t-he laterallyextending arms are pivotally connected with the car-frame so as to be capable of swinging laterally in a substantially horizontal plane turning about the pivot rod 28 as a center. To strengthen this hinged connection, the uprights 26 are provided with horizontal ears 31-32 which project laterally therefrom registering with the bent ends thereof and which are perforated to receive the pivot rod 28. The outer ends of the ears 31-32 are rounded so that they do not interfere with the swinging of the laterallyprojecting arms. Preferably the pivots for the laterally-projecting arms which support the inner ends of the scraper-frames are set nearer the car-frame, as clearly shown in Figs. l and 2.

33 indicates one of the scraper-frames which are supported by the pairs of laterally-projecting arms. Said scraper-frames, as shown in Fig. l, are rectangular in shape, preferably being made of channel-iron, as shown in Fig. 4. They are adapted to rest upon the flanges of the laterally-projecting arms which are also preferably made of channel-iron, and are secured to said arms by downwardly-projecting plates 34 which lit into slots 35 in ears 36 secured to said laterally-projecting arms, as 17, the arrangement being practically a dowel-pin connection. Two of the connecting plates 84 are preferably provided at eachend of the scraper-frames, and the laterally-projecting arms may be provided with any desired number of ears 3G so that the scraper-frames may be set at dierent distances from the car-frame. In Fig. l, 1 have illustrated a part of a second scraper-frame 33 as resting upon t-he laterally-projecting arm 21 at a greater distance from the car-frame than the scraper-frame shown in full. This will serve t0 illustrate the manner in which the two scraper-frames at one side of the car may be set so as to coperate to scrape a strip of ground of greater width.

At each end of the car is provided a transversely-disposed draft-bar 37, the ends of which project laterally in front of the laterally -projecting scraperframe supporting arms, as shown in Fig. l, and which are connected therewith by chains 38. Also the inner scraper-frame-support-ing arms are connected by cross-braces 39-40 and chains 41', as shown in Fig. 1. These several braces are detachable7 so that they may be readily disengaged.

The scraper-frame and the parts carried thereby are best shown in Figs. l, 5, 8 and l2. The scraper-blade 42 is supported below the frame 33 by means of beams 43-44 other with the other.

which extend forward of the blade and are connected at their front ends to an annular rack 45 which is fitted within a stationary ring 4G, as shown in Figs. 5 and 12. As best shown in Fig. l2, the annular rack 45 is provided with teeth on its inner margin, its outer margin having a flange 47 which overlies a flange 48 at the inner margin of the ring 46. Thus the flange 4S forms a support for the annular rack 45, on which the latter may rotate. The beams 43-44 .being rigidly connected to the rack 45, obviously by rotatingsaid rack the angular position of the blade may be changed. The ring 4G is connected to a V-shaped frame or beam 49 the apex of which is connected with the draft-chain 3S, being provided with an eye 50 at its forward end adapted to receive a hook 5l at the rear end of the chain 3S, as shown in Figs. l and 3. The separated rear ends of the beam 49 are connected by chains 52-53, respectively, with the end portions of a rack-bar 54, best shown in Fig. l0, said rack-bar being supported by a cross-bar 55 extending transversely of the scraper-supporting frame 33, as shown in Figs. 1 and l1. The rack-bar 54 may be connected with the scraper-frame in any suitable wav, provided endwise movement thereof is permitted, but 1 prefer to employ the construction shown in Fig. ll, in which said bar is connected with a i'-beam 5G arranged to slide between guides 57 which also are connected with the cross-bar 55. Therack-bar is moved endwise by means of a pinion 58 which meshes therewith and is carried at the lower end of a shaft 59 provided with a hand-wheel (SO, as shown in Figs. l and l1. Thus by rotating the hand-wheel 60, the rack-bar 54 may be moved endwise transversely of the scraper-supporting-frame, thereby carrying the rear ends of the beam 49 to one side or the other and moving` the scraper with the supporting devices therefor bodily to one side or the other toward or from the car-frame. The angular position of the scraper-blade is varied as desired by means of a hand-wheel G1 mounted on a vertical shaft 62 which carries a pinion G3 at its lower end. As best shown in Fig. 5, said pinion meshes with the annular 'ack 45, so that by rotating the hand-wheel Gl the angle of the blade may be changed as desired, or it may be swung entirely around so as to be in position to operate in the reverse direction. G4 indicates a bracket which guides and supports the lower end of the shaft 62, said bracket being secured to the stationary ring 46, as shown in Fig. 5. The stationary ring 46 with the blade and other parts carried Athereby may be raised and lowered by means of handwheels 65 G6, one of said wheels being connected with one side of the ring and the As shown in Fig.

l, the hand-wheel G5 is mounted on the horizontal shaft (3T which carries a pinion (38, the latter meshing with a gear 69 mounted on the longitudinally-extending shaft TO which is connected by means of a universal joint Tt with a stud 72 which carries a pinion T3, the latter meshing with a rackbar 74 vertically-disposed and connected at its lower end preferably by a ball and socket joint 75 with an arm 76 which is connected to and extends laterally from the stationary ring 4G, as is best shown in Figs. 5 and 1Q. r`he hand-wheel 66 is connected in a similar way with a laterallyeprojecting arm TT at the opposite side of the ring 46. The connections beingl the same, thev are indicated by the same reference numerals. 7H indicates brackets which embrace the rack-bars T4 and guide them. They also serve to hold said rack-bars in mesh with the pinions T3, as shown in Fig. 12. 'T9 indicates anti-friction rollers carried by the brackets T8. By the construction shown, the scraper-blade may be raised and lowered as desired, either side being` raised or lowered independently of the other. The pitch of the scraper-blade is varied by raising or lowering the front end of the forked-beain 49, this being eti'ected by means of a hand-wheel SO mounted on a transverse shaft Sl and connected by universal joint 82 with a stud S3 carrying the pinion S4, the latter n'ieshing with a rack-bar S5 similar to the rack-bar 74, and connected preferably by a ball and socket joint. S6 with an arm 87 secured at the front cud of the frame 49, as best shown in Fig. 5. By raising or lowering the rack-bar S5, the height of the front end of the frame 49 is varied, and consequently the pitch of the scraper-blade altered. 8S indicates chains which connect the rear portion of the ring 46 with the rear portion of the blade-suimorting frame 33, thus serving to lcld the ringl 46 and the parts carried thereby steady while in operation. 89 indicates a locking pin for locking the annular rack 45 against rotation, said pin being mounted in a bracket 90 secured to the stationary rack 4G, as shown in Fig. 9, and being adapted to project through a hole in the lower portion of said bracket and a registering hole 92 in the rack 45.'

A number of holes 92 are provided so that the rack 45 may be locked in a number of different positions. A spring 93 serves to force the pin S9 downward into operative position. 1t is moved out of operative position to release the rack 45 by a cam-lever 94 pivoted upon the upper end of the pin S9 above the bracket 90 and having a cam portion 95 which bears upon the upper end of the bracket in such manner that when depressed it will operate to draw the pin S9 upward and release the rack 45.

Fig. l shows one of the scraper-frames and blades in operative posit-ion. When any' scraper-frame is not to be used it may be removed and deposited upon the car-frai'ne by simply lifting it out of engagement with the laterally-projecting arms lTwlS, or the corresponding arms at the other portions of the car-frame. To facilitate this operation, a crane of any suitable type is provided on the car-frame. In F ig. 3 1 have illust 1ated one form of crane suitable for this purpose, the same comprising a mast 96 pivoted to swing upon the car-frame into position to engage the scraper-frame at either side thereofI and having a beam 9T provided with suitable blocks through which runs a hoisting rope 98 having a hook 99 or other suitable means for engaging the scraper-frame. windlass 100 of any suitable type is provided for operating the hoisting rope. 101 indi-v cates a brace for the mast.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that any one of the scraper-frames may readily be put in place or removed and deposited on the car-frame, or, if desired, a scraper-frame may be transferred from one side of the car to the other. Furthermore, the scraping devices carried by any scraper-frame may be adjusted so as to operate by the movement of the car in either direction, or to move the material either toward or from the car or railway. Moreover, the scraper-frames may be set a greater or less distance from the car-frame. My improved grading machine is therefore well adapted for use under a variety of conditions.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

l. A grading machine, comprising a earframe mounted on wheelsadapted to run on a track, a pair of arms connected .with said car-frame and projecting laterally at one side thereof, said arms being a distance apart, a scraper-frame connected with said arms, and reversible scraping means carried by said scraper-frame.

9. A grading machine, comprising a carframe mounted on wheels adapted to run on a track, a pair of arms pivotally connected with said car-frame to swing in a substantially horizontal plane and projecting laterally at one side thereof, said arms being a distance apart, a scraper-frame connected with said arms, and'scraping means carried by said scraper-frame.

3. A grading machine, comprising a carframe mounted on wheels adapted to run on a track, a pair of arms connected with said car-frame and projecting laterally at one side thereof, said arms being a distance apart, a scraper-frame connected with said arms, scraping means carried by said scraperframe, and a draft-bar projecting laterally at one end of the car-frame and connected with the adjacent arm.

CFI

A grading machine, comprising carframe mounted on wheels adapted to run on a track, a pair of arms connected with said car-frame and projecting laterally at one side thereof, said arms being a distance apart, a scraper-frame connected with said arms and adjustable longitudinally thereof toward and from the car-frame, and scraping means carried by said scraper-frame.

5. A grading machine, comprising a carframe mounted on wheels adapted to run on a track, a plurality of pairs of laterally-projecting arms carried thereby at one side thereof, the inner arms of each pair being connected together, scraper-frames carried by said pairs of arms, and scraping means carried by said scraper-frames.

6. A grading machine, comprising a carframe mounted on wheels adapted to run on a track, a plurality of pairs of laterally-projecting arms carried thereby at one side thereof, the inner arms of each pair being connected together, scraper-frames carried by said pairs of arms, scraping means carried by said scraper-frames, and draftbeams at the ends of the car-frame and projecting laterally in front of said arms, said draft-beams being connected with the adjacent arms.

7. A grading machine, comprising a carframe mounted on wheels adapted to run on a track, supporting devices projecting laterally at one side of the car-frame and pivoted to swing in a substantially horizontal plane, a scraper-frame carried by said supporting devices, and scraping means and mechanism for adjusting the same carried by said scraper-frame.

8. A grading machine, comprising a carframe mounted on wheels adapted to run on a track, supporting devices projecting laterally at one side of the car-frame, a scraperframe carried by said supporting devices, and scraping means and mechanism for adjusting the same carried by said scraperframe, said scraping means being reversible so that it may be employed when the car is moved in either direction.

9. 'A grading machine, comprising a carframe mounted on wheels adapted to run on a track, a pair of arms pivotally connected at one side of said car-frame and projecting laterally therefrom, said arms being a distance apart, a scraper-frame connected with said arms and movable longitudinally thereof, and scraping means carried by said scraper-frame.

l0. A grading machine, comprising a carframe mounted on wheels adapted to run on a track, a pair of arms pivotally connected with said car-frame at one side thereof and adapted to swing in a horizontal plane at one side thereof, said arms being a distance apart, a scraper-frame connected with said arms, and scraping means carried by said scraper-frame.

1l. A grading machine, comprising a carframe mounted on wheels adapted to run on a track, a pair of arms pivotally connected with said car-frame at one side thereof and adapted to swing in a horizontal plane at one side thereof, said arms being a distance apart, a scraper-frame connected with said arms and adjustable longitudinally thereof, and scraping means carried by said scraper frame.

l2. A grading machine, comprising a carframe mounted on wheels adapted to run on a track, a pair of arms pivotally connected at one side with said car-frame and projecting laterally therefrom, said arms being a distance apart, a scraper-frame connected with said arms, scraping means carried by said scraper-frame, and draft-devices connected with said arms.

18. A grading machine, comprising a carframe mounted on wheels adapted to run on a track, a pair of arms pivotally connected with said car-frame at one side thereof and adapted to swing in a' horizontal plane at one side thereof, said arms being a distance apart, a scraper-frame connected with said arms, scraping means carried by said scraper-frame, and draft-devices connected with said arms.

THOMAS R. MoKNIGI-IT.

litnesses MILES T. BABE, FRANCES B. FLYNN. 

